The Losses at Power Grid Caused by Small Nonlinear Loads

Abstract

The difference between registered active power and spent unregistered power represents the losses at power grid. This paper treats problems related to losses caused by nonlinear loads connected to the power grid. In recent years the load profile of power consumers turned from energy-waster linear to energysaver but non-linear loads. The main cause of the losses appears due to the lack of adequate measurement equipment. Namely, common household power meters register only active energy, while power meters for industrial application register reactive energy as well. This approach does not follow the change of the enduser profile. Tendency of improving energy efficiency brought wide use of switching mode regulators and replace old incandescent light bulb with new energy saving lamps (CFL – compact fluorescent lamp, LED bulb). Therefore, the number of non-linear load drastically increased. Registering only active component of power at consumer’s side does not depict the real profile of the consumption. Therefore, in this paper we analyse and quantify the effects of nonlinear loads at power losses. As a result we suggest an efficient method for measuring the distortion component of power. The method relays on low-cost upgrade of commercial electronic power meters. The presented results of measurements on small non-linear loads confirm the proposed technique. Besides, they prove the importance of measuring all components of apparent power and justified their use in billing policy. The implemented set-up is based on power meter manufactured by EWG of Niš.